John Ray, 1627-1705, was probably the most distinguished British natural scientist to date, but his genius remains largely unknown to the general public.

The modern system of scientific classification is based on the method of grouping species first used by Ray and further developed in the 18th century by the Swedish botanist, Carl Linnaeus, using Ray’s work as reference. Charles Darwin, the 19th century naturalist who wrote The Origin of Species putting forward the theory of evolution, was also influenced by Ray’s work, particularly his theological book The Wisdom of God Manifested in the Works of Creation.

The John Ray Trust, founded in 1986 to mark the 300th anniversary of the publication of Ray’s most famous work Historia Plantarum, ensures that he receives the public recognition he so richly deserves and inspires future generations to follow in his footsteps …

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